The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) has overturned a High Court order issued July this year declaring the extension of Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s term of office beyond his retirement age of 70 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa was unconstitutional.

This means Malaba can stay on for the next five years as the country’s topmost judge with his services most likely to come in handy should there be another disputed elections in 2023.

Malaba is viewed as a close ally to Mnangagwa, whose 2018 poll victory was upheld by the judge after being challenged in the ConCourt by arch-rival Nelson Chamisa of MDC Alliance.